TDOT Construction Update

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Parts of EAST and MIDDLE TENNESSEE Construction

JANUARY 30, 2014 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

BRADLEY COUNTY, I-75 construction of a concrete Bulb-Tee Beam Bridge, including grading, drainage and paving at the Exit 20 interchange (U.S. 64 Bypass East, U.S. 74 East, SR-311, APD-40) (LM 4.86) in Cleveland: Work continues on this project. The contractor will be working on clearing and drainage during this report period. APD-40 south going toward I-75 is down to one lane from Exit 20 to the end of the project. The designated right turn lane on APD-40 will be closed to allow the contractor to begin widening the roadway, and the I-75 northbound on-ramp is reduced to a 16-foot lane. Signs will be posted and flaggers will assist with traffic control if needed. Any work requiring interstate lane closures is limited to Sunday through Thursday nights between 7PM - 6AM. THP will assist with traffic control as necessary during interstate lane closures. Estimated project completion date is November 2015.

BRADLEY COUNTY, Benton Pike, Durkee Road, and Michigan Avenue, grading, drainage, and paving on a State Industrial Access route serving the Whirlpool Corporation: The contractor continues work on this project at the Whirlpool Corporation plant. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is July 2014.

Hamilton County, U.S. 41 (SR-8, Ringgold Rd.) grading, drainage and paving at the intersection of I-75 South off-ramp (LM 1.07) at Exit 1: The majority of work on this project has been completed. There will be no work during this report period. In the future, the contractor will be installing a traffic signal at the top of the ramp. Work will take place during non-peak daytime hours on Mondays through Saturdays. At least one lane on the ramp will remain open at all times. THP and flaggers will assist with traffic control as necessary. Estimated project completion date is February 2014.

HAMILTON COUNTY, U.S. 27 (SR-29) reconstruction project from Manufacturers Road (Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River) to U.S. 127 (SR-8, Signal Mountain Road/Boulevard): Weather permitting, the contractor may have lane closures throughout the project area on weeknights to perform road work. They will also be working on retaining walls and bridges throughout the project area. During nighttime work, at least one lane will remain open in each direction. Traffic has now been shifted onto the new northbound Signal Mountain Road exit ramp. The temporary exit ramp to Signal Mountain Road that had been used by the traveling public was closed to allow construction of a new, permanent ramp. The northbound Dayton Boulevard exit ramp was also closed, and it will be closed for s

several months to allow the contractor to construct a new bridge. As a result, traffic accessing Signal Mountain Road and Dayton Boulevard from U.S. 27 North is now routed onto the new ramp that ends in a signalized intersection at Signal Mountain Road. From there, either a left turn toward Dayton Boulevard or a right turn onto Signal Mountain Road can be made. The signal-controlled intersection as it is currently configured is only temporary. When the work is completed in this area, traffic travelling toward Signal Mountain will have two permanent free flowing right turn lanes from U.S. 27 North which will significantly improve the movement of traffic. However, to construct these new lanes it is necessary to shift traffic to its current position so that work can continue. The work to complete these new free flowing lanes is scheduled to be completed in approximately sixty days, and TDOT is looking at means to expedite their construction even more quickly if possible. Meanwhile, we will continue to monitor the traffic and make adjustments to the signal timing along with whatever other temporary improvements we can make to move traffic as smoothly as possible. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary. Estimated project completion date is February 2015.

HAMILTON COUNTY, Shallowford Road widening project from Gunbarrel Road to Jenkins Road, including grading drainage, and paving: Work continues on this project. The contractor will be paving during this report period as weather and temperatures permit. Drivers are urged to be alert and to obey all traffic signs. Flaggers will be in place to assist with traffic control as necessary. Estimated project completion date is February 2014.

HAMILTON COUNTY, construction of a State Industrial Access route serving Volkswagen Group of America, including grading, drainage and paving: Work on this project continues. The contractor is in the process of clearing and taking care of environmental measures in order to start on road and drainage. Traffic will not be impacted at this time therefore, no lane closures are needed. Estimated project completion date is September 2014.

HAMILTON and BRADLEY COUNTIES, I-75 from MM 13.9 to MM 25.3 expansion of Chattanooga SmartWay Intelligent Traffic System: Work on this project continues. There will be daytime shoulder closures throughout the project area as the contractor performs work for future traffic cameras and dynamic message signs. Estimated completion date is May 2014.

Marion County, u.s. 41 (U.S. 64, U.S. 72, SR-2) replacement of the truss bridge over the Tennessee River at Nickajack Lake (LM 21.14) with a multi-span steel plate girder bridge: The truss bridge is now closed to all through traffic until the new adjacent bridge currently under construction is completed. A detour route that adds an additional 1.5 miles to the current route is posted. Estimated project completion date is February 2014 (this date will be changed soon due to a time extension, but at this time the final completion date has not been determined).

MCMINN COUNTY, SR-30 widening project, including grading, drainage, paving, construction of a concrete box beam bridge and retaining wall from County Road 609 to the 4-lane section in Etowah:The contractor is moving dirt in this phase of the project. County Road 607 is currently closed, and a marked detour is in place. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Traffic is now detoured onto the new traffic lanes starting from east of County Road 609 and detouring back onto the old SR-30 at County Road 623. Drivers are urged to use caution and pay attention to construction signs in this area. Estimated project completion is November 2014.

MCMINN COUNTY, SR-30 Miscellaneous safety improvements at the Tennessee Wesleyan College pedestrian crossing in Athens (LM 10.41):The contractor continues work on this project. Please be aware of intermittent lane changes. Estimated project completion is February 2014.

MEIGS COUNTY, SR-30 relocation beginning east of the Tennessee River to west of SR-58:Paving operations have been suspended until the spring. Traffic should not be interrupted until this starts. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion is spring 2014.

VAN BUREN COUNTY, SR-111 grading, drainage, and paving from south of Manus Road to south of SR-285 near Double Bridge Road: Work has begun on this project. Temporary traffic control signs have been installed, and clearing is currently underway. Motorists should use caution and be alert to construction equipment and vehicles within the work zone. Project completion date is November 2015.

The 2016 Empty Stocking Fund has completed a 10-day on-the-air radio campaign on My Mix 104.1/WCLE with its biggest year in 45 years. Listeners gave over $78,000 to provide Christmas gifts to over 1,000 children in Cleveland and Bradley County. Donors continue to give and sponsors anticipate numbers to grow in weeks to come . The Empty Stocking Fund represents ... (click for more)

CDOT announces intermittent lane closures on Vance Road between Airport Road and Lee Highway for resurfacing. Work will start on Monday and continue until Saturday, Dec. 17. Traffic control devices will be in place to direct traffic, but motorists should expect delays during these times. In order to view a map of these closures, click here . (click for more)

Rev. Lurone Jennings, administrator of City Youth and Family Development, has been suspended for one week for misallocation of funds. He also is to be issued a letter of reprimand and will undergo ethics training. The action came after a critical audit report from City Auditor Stan Sewell. It says Mr. Jennings transferred $18,500 of funds to a program, Journey Educational ... (click for more)

Walker County Sole Commissioner-Elect Shannon Whitfield said there will be a new arrangement for holding of public commissioner sessions when he takes place at the start of January. Current Commissioner Bebe Heiskell has held Thursday meetings at 3:30 p.m. from time to time in a conference room at her office near the Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette. Mr. Whitfield said those ... (click for more)

Spreading false information isn't only harmful, as we've been made aware recently. The spread of false information can be outright dangerous. Calling himself a Christian and all, Roy truly disappoints on so many levels with his recently opinion piece about black students attending predominately white schools being the cause of so much problems and grief at those schools. ... (click for more)

If I could change one thing about the schools in Chattanooga, my wish would be that everybody could become good friends. I’m talking about the private schools versus the public schools. The rancor is so bad we hardly ever play in sports anymore and what the loathsome TSSAA has done in recent years to the out-numbered private schools is sinful. My dream would be that there would ... (click for more)